With Mariners' coach Arnold banned from touchline duties in the wake of his comments directed at the officials during last week's match against Melbourne Victory, assistant coach Phil Moss took charge of the ladder-leaders in the F3 derby on Saturday.

However, Arnold was alleged to have communicated to the Mariners' bench during the match, with both Fox Sports and Coast FM alluding to a complaint about the scenario during their coverage.

Van Egmond attempted to question the fourth official Tim McGilchrist about Arnold's alleged role but was rebuked.

"You are not allowed to talk to the fourth official, he wouldn't talk to me anyway. I don't know what I have done to upset him," van Egmond said.

"I was just wondering who they were talking too (via an earpiece)."

"Apparently it was Adriano Pellegrino (who wasn't in the match day squad) so there is nothing in it. If that's the case, that's the case."

Van Egmond felt fourth official McGilchrist could have taken a more proactive role.

"The rules are the rules," he said.

"If I was the fourth official and I saw one of the assistant coaches with an earpiece and a walkie talkie and you know that your coach isn't actually on the bench what would you think?

"If you are going to make rules and if you see something like that I would have thought the fourth official maybe could have been a bit more switched on and would have asked.

"They case may be that he may well have done. And if he found out the answer was Pellegrino (and not Arnold) well then that was it."

The former AIS mentor suggested McGilchrist should have asked to speak to Pellegrino to confirm the situation.

Van Egmond said it was 'up to the League (to investigate further.) That's not for me to decide'.

Mariners' assistant coach Moss refuted the allegation stating: "I can put it to bed straight away. I didn't hear once from Arnie during the game. He knows what the rules are. There was no communication at all."